Pentyrch

Geography

The village is situated next to the Garth Mountain, high above the River Taff.

The village can be reached from junction 32 of the M4 Motorway, then A470, then via Heol Goch, a hill flanked by a quarry and nature reserve. Alternatively, Church Road provides access from Llantrisant Road near St Fagans.

Other approaches are from Creigiau and Gwaelod-y-Garth.

Demographics

At the 2001 census, Pentyrch contained 3,535 individuals, in 1,358 households.

Governance

Pentyrch became the newest addition to the Cardiff unitary authority in 1996. The electoral ward of Pentyrch falls within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff West. It is bounded by Rhondda Cynon Taf to the north; and by the wards of Whitchurch & Tongwynlais to the east; Radyr & Morganstown to the southeast; and Creigiau & St. Fagans to the southwest. Pentyrch was represented by Conservative councillor Craig Williams on Cardiff Council until he stepped down in 2015 following his election to Parliament. A by-election took place on Tuesday 30 June 2015 which despite a 27% swing to Plaid Cymru's Hywel Wigley resulted in a narrow win for Conservative candidate Gavin Hill-John by 18 votes. Pentyrch ward is part of Cardiff West constituency and represented by the Labour Party in the Houses of Commons and the National Assembly.

Amenities

On entering the village, the visitor passes the playground, and on the left is Acapela Studio a concert hall and recording studio owned by harpist Catrin Finch and music and television producer Hywel Wigley. Acapela studio has hosted a series of acclaimed Welsh acts such as Gruff Rhys, Cerys Matthews and Charlotte Church as well as up and coming local and international music acts. Many programs for S4C and the BBC are filmed there. The building itself is converted from the former presbyterian Capel Horeb and contains a fully licensed bar. Opposite Acapela is the Lewis Arms public house.

Past these lies the village centre, containing a Spar general store which includes a Post Office, delicatessen, hairdressers, doctors, a veterinary practice and butchers. The focus of older buildings in the village is reached by forking left after entering the village, travelling down to the King's Arms pub, and St. Catwg's Church, at the lowest point of the village. Along with St. Catwg's Church and its lychgate, the King's Arms is a Grade 2 Listed Building. Originally a seventeenth century copyhold farm called Cae Golman, the King's Arms became established as a public house in the eighteenth century. In the lounge bar, can be found a fireplace with chamfered beam, dated 1711.

Housing is split between older housing and large developments of post-1970s housing.

Sport in the village is centred on the Pentyrch Rugby Football Club. There is also a cricket pitch and other facilities at the club.

Pentyrch Rangers football club is based in the village. The club has nearly 200 registered players and runs 10 junior and mini football teams in the Cardiff and District League.

Other amenities include a village hall and primary school. The village has some art on display, including a mural situated on the green on High corner.

In 1993, Pentyrch hosted its first National/Sunday League Cricket Match, as Glamorgan lost to Northamptonshire, becoming the country's smallest village to do so.

Pentyrch is covered by Fairwater Police Station.

Notable people